LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22, 2021 — The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region in partnership with the California Community Foundation and members of the PrepareLA Sylmar Resiliency Coalition will distribute 2,000 COVID-19 Preparedness Bags during a drive-thru event in Sylmar on Saturday, Jan. 23.

The drive-thru is part of a Red Cross Rapid Response operation that began last summer to provide COVID-19 safety resources and disaster preparedness information to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable communities. Since the pandemic hit in March 2020, communities, such as Westlake-Pico Union and El Monte have faced dramatic COVID-19 challenges, all of which have caused a steady increase in the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths.

“During the coronavirus pandemic, life's emergencies don't stop. High risk and vulnerable residents must now update or get an emergency kit that includes COVID-19 safety essentials such as face masks and hand sanitizer,” said Norma Vega, Chief Strategy and External Relations Officer for American Red Cross Los Angeles Region.

The custom Red Cross drawstring bags feature a checklist of essential emergency items and COVID-19 safety graphics. The bags include adult and children’s face masks, hand sanitizers, COVID-19 safety information and a waterproof envelope for essential emergency documents.

Red Cross COVID-19 Preparedness Bag Distribution

_WHEN:

_{Saturday, Jan. 23, 2021}

_{8 – 9 a.m.: Community partners retrieve kits for targeted distribution}

_{9 a.m. – Noon: Drive-thru COVID-19 Preparedness Bag distribution open to the community}

_WHERE:

_{Carpenters Union Local 661}

_{15881 Valley View Court}

_{Sylmar, CA 91342}

_WHO:

_{Joanne Nowlin – CEO, American Red Cross Los Angeles Region}

_{Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez – Los Angeles City Councilwoman, 7th District}

_{Hector LaFarga – Executive Director, American Red Cross Northern Valleys Chapter}

For the past eight years, the Red Cross has worked to make these communities more resilient in the face of a major disaster and now, as a result of this slow-moving disaster, such support is critical to prepare and protect Angelenos.

Red Cross PrepareLA partners from East LA, Compton, Huntington Park, Wilmington Park, El Monte and Pomona coalitions will also distribute the COVID-19 Preparedness Bags, along with the Boyle Heights Arts Conservatory and Casa de la Cultura Maya in the weeks to come.

The Sylmar drive-thru event is in partnership with Tia Chucha's Centro Cultural, PrepareLA Sylmar Resiliency Coalition, Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, Congressman Tony Cardenas, and Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. The preparedness bag is sponsored by the California Community Foundation, FEMA, L.A. County Department of Public Health, OfficeZilla, and FLTR.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.